History of the United States of America, from the Discovery of the Continent - Vol. 6

THE convention, which had shown itself so resolute for
consolidating the union, next bethought itself of home rule.
In reply to what had fallen from Hamilton, Wilson said, on the
nineteenth of June : “I am for a national government, but not
one that will swallow up the state governments; these are absolutely necessary for purposes which the national government
cannot reach.”

“I did not intend yesterday,” exclaimed Hamilton, “a total
extinguishment of state governments; but that a national government must have indefinite sovereignty; for if it were limited at all, the rivalship of the states would gradually subvert
it.* The states must retain subordinate jurisdictions.”† “If
the states,” said King, “retain some portion of their sovereignty, they have certainly divested themselves of essential portions
of it. If, in some respects, they form a confederacy, in others
they form a nation.”

Martin held that the separation from Great Britain placed
the thirteen states in a state of nature toward each other,‡
This Wilson denied, saying : “In the declaration of independence the united colonies were declared to be free and independent states, independent, not individually, but unitedly.”#

Connecticut, which was in all sincerity partly federal and
partly national, was now compelled to take the lead. As a

* Gilpin, 904; Elliot, 212.

† Yates in Elliot, i., 426.

‡ Gilpin, 906, 907; Elliot, 213.

# Gilpin, 907; Elliot, 213.

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Notes for this page

Questia, a part of Gale, Cengage Learning. www.questia.comPublication information:
Book title: History of the United States of America, from the Discovery of the Continent.
Volume: 6.
Contributors: George Bancroft - Author.
Publisher: D. Appleton.
Place of publication: New York.
Publication year: 1891.
Page number: 239.

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